SAISA Swimming

The SAISA swim team is open to swimmers from ages 10-19.  Competition is done in age groups of 10-12, 13 & 14, and 15-19.  Coaches Donna Fava, Velin Prabhu, James Dowling, and John Sandman will be providing opportunities for students to improve their stroke and compete in the annual SAISA swim meet, this year held in Muscat, Oman from October 26th through 28th.

Practice schedule:

• Monday 6:15-8:00 AM
• Tuesday  6:15-8:00 AM
• Thursday  6:15-8:00 AM
• Friday  6:15-8:00 AM
• Saturday time trials 1-3 PM

Athletes from the 2016-2017 SAISA season.

Coach James Dowling

James Dowling

James Dowling has been a PE teacher for 24 years, formerly in Australia and then for the last 15 in International Schools in 5 different countries. He has a particular interest in strength and conditioning development, especially for children using a movement-centered, functional fitness approach. He enjoys the sport of Rugby and has recently represented Switzerland in Touch Rugby.

James will be coaching SAISA and ASIAC swimming in 2017-2018.

Coach Donna Fava

Now entering my fifth year as the Aquatics Director at AISC, and third year as the Head Coach of the SAISA Swim team, I am more excited as ever for the season to begin. Along with my assistant coaches, I am looking forward to helping each swimmer achieve numerous personal bests throughout the season. Being on a team is not only about competition. The Four C's of the AISC Mission Statement - Courage, Confidence, Creativity and Compassion - will be emphasized throughout the season and will guide each and every practice. Swimmers will have the opportunity to not only grow, athletically, but will be challenged to inspire one another to become leaders, encouragers and demonstrators of bravery and compassion. My expectation is that each swimmer will come to practice with the intention of being the best that they can be on that day and time. Having a growth mindset will allow them to not always look beyond the horizon, but also to focus on the present, knowing that they have it within themselves to focus on the here and now to reach the daily, along with long term goals for the future. Success or failure is not achieved based on the results of one race or meet, but on the effort that is given to each practice and race. If the SAISA 2017-18 Swim Team members learn that this year, it will bring each and every one of them personal success that will culminate as team success.  I am looking forward to one of the best seasons yet!

Coach Velin Prabhu

Velin Prabhu is the Aquatics teachers assistant at AISC, and is commonly addressed as Coach Velin or Mr. Velin. He is from Mumbai, India and loves to teach students. Velin joined AISC in 2015, before his wife, Sheetal Prabhu, joining in 2016. Before AISC, Velin was working at the American International School Bombay (ASB) for 8 years. Since childhood, swimming has always been his passion and has been learning swimming since he was an elementary student. Velin doesn’t only like to swim but likes to participate in all kinds of sports too, specifically soccer. He enjoys working here at AISC because of the lovely environment and community that surrounds him. He believes the best thing about his job is being a part of student progress and growth with the aquatic skills he teaches. His most memorable moment being at AISC was training the swim team in May 2017 and placing 1st at the swim meet in Stone Hill International School, Bangalore. Mr. Velin wishes that if he had any superpower, he would like to change the world by conserving earths’ nature and restoring mother earth.